Dozens of terrified Israelis also suffered from trauma and severe anxiety, some with poor health exacerbated by the extra stress.

Shortly after midnight a Grad Katyusha missile was safely neutralized by the Iron Dome anti-missile system in Be'er Sheva. The life-saving rescue came after residents in the surrounding communities of Rahat, Lehavim and Meitar were awakened by the air raid sirens warning them to head to the bomb shelters.

Two short-range Kassam rockets exploded in the Gaza Belt community of Sderot at about 3:00 a.m., both landing in open areas. No damage or physical injuries were reported.

Residents in the coastal city of Ashkelon reported hearing a “loud explosion” at about 5:30 a.m. after having been sent by the air raid siren to the bomb shelters. It was not clear whether the expected medium-range Grad Katyusha missile had landed in an open area, or instead had been intercepted and neutralized by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

But even Gaza terrorists have to sleep and take a break sometime. There were no attacks reported till around midday, when the Iron Dome system was deployed. Military sources gave no specific information about location.

At about 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon a rocket attack was launched at the Sdot Negev Regional Council district. One of the short-range Kassam rockets damaged a power cable in the area, but no physical injuries were reported in the attack.

The Color Red air raid alert siren was heard in the Nahal Oz and Kfar Aza communities.

Southern Israeli residents have been warned by Home Front Command to stay near their safe spaces and bomb shelters. In addition, the IDF issued orders to limit gatherings to no more than 500 participants due to the security situation. It is also no longer permissible to hold classes in structures that are not fortified, military officials said.